| The key to a successful web design begins with a | | | | 12. Never use all caps in your content body unless you |
| plan. Below are 15 simple basic rules. | | | | are emphasizing something very important and only |
| | | | then when it is a few words in one context. |
| 1. Utilize a straight-forward simple design. | | | | 13. Use italicized text sparingly as well. This is a good |
| 2. Stick with a clean elegant aesthetic approach. | | | | way of displaying quotations and drawing attention to |
| 3. Avoid blinking text and flashing text. For a | | | | specific text but do not go overboard. |
| professional website this is merely an annoyance. | | | | 14. Bold text is another fine way to draw attention to a |
| There are plenty of other methods to draw attention | | | | sentence or keyword phrase but use it judiciously or it |
| to important information. | | | | loses its value. |
| 4. Use titles and headers that include your keyword | | | | 15. When using embedded images always included |
| phrases. | | | | alternate text and apply the same rules as stated in |
| 5. Stick with one h1 header per page that includes one | | | | rule 11 for the formatting. |
| of your keyword phrases. | | | | Additional tips to keep in mind: |
| 6. Skip the background music. No two people enjoy | | | | |
| the same music so just do not use background music | | | | 1. Come up with original, creative, content that is |
| and avoid turning anyone off. If you absolutely have to | | | | relevant to your industry. I cannot emphasize this |
| have a theme song, at least embed a music player | | | | enough. This is absolutely the most important aspect to |
| that allows the guest to turn the music off. | | | | a successful website. If you have trouble writing |
| 7. Keep your theme consistent throughout your | | | | content, please find a copywriter to write unique, quality |
| website (especially with your colors - stay neutral and | | | | content for your website even if you have to hire |
| if you have a logo, theme your website colors to | | | | someone to do so. Nothing else will improve your |
| compliment your logo.) | | | | website's success more than good quality, well written |
| 8. Never use annoying pop-up windows. This is the | | | | content. |
| fastest way to lose a new guest. | | | | 2. For a new website a great place to start for quality |
| 9. Stick to traditional navigation systems. Use standard | | | | content could be a glossary of terms with definitions |
| menu structures - either horizontally across the top or | | | | that are related to your industry. |
| vertically along the left or right column. | | | | 3. Another great thing to include for any website is a |
| 10. Create a site map. Many people will use this to | | | | set of FAQs (frequently asked questions) with |
| navigate a site when they are new to using it. A | | | | answers. |
| sitemap also helps the search engines navigate your | | | | 4. Do not be afraid to share as much information |
| site for indexing. | | | | about your industry as you can on your website. |
| 11. Do not center everything down the middle of the | | | | Remember, the information is already out there |
| website or align everything to the right or the left. Try | | | | somewhere, would it not be better for you to be the |
| to create a natural flow of text and images that flows | | | | source of the information, the authority? |
| from right to left and then back again. | | | | |